All the talk of her not looking like a MG should is probably stirring up her dark imagining from 1185 too (https://megatokyo.com/strip/1185). Yuki is reasonably sure what people think a MG should look like but I hope she also remembers her mom's lesson from 1036 (https://megatokyo.com/strip/1036) about how silly those ideas are.

The fact that all the fighters feel safe if it's Erika being the magical girl totally cracks me up. The woman is nuclear armament personified. This is starting to look like the male half of the MT population have a collective head injury.

In fairness, I suspect their point is that they trust Erika to have brains and good judgement when it comes to the use of any powers she might have. My impression is that the big concern with Magic Girls is that they're considered loose cannons on deck possibly due to youth and inexperience.

And Yuki's self image goes shattering into a million little shards...
Considering how unlucky breaking a mirror is, how much bad bad ju ju did these young men just generate for smashing a young MG's self esteem?

If magical girl detectors are that common, and the girls are that dangerous, wouldn't the TPCD make a more active attempt to locate them? Send young agents to every school randomly, stand in the doorways while the students file in or out with a magical girl detector and photograph and investigate any who set the things off. Or install a detector in the doorway with a remote triggered camera. Drive around the city, or fly drones, in a grid pattern all night, thoroughly investigate any pings. Create a system of annual medical screenings for students where one of the test instruments served double duty as a magical girl detector.

Well of course they would. And have. When Yuki rode the giant zombie zilla and stole it from the TPCD, all the police were commenting on the fact that this was an unidentified catastrophic grade magical girl. Like it was pretty rare for one to escape detection and monitoring. If Yuki remains unidentified it is with the complicity of her father the high ranking police official. Maybe this has extended to her mother over the years, although as she has taken contracts from the TPCD that probably isn't so. Of course that would mean a real outing now might endanger her fathers job, her families income. Maybe she is identified to the TPCD, but not these random heroes.

Another suggestion. And PLEASE don't kill me for this, I do not think it is likely, just possible. Do we know this is the heroes talking about Yuki in the last frame? Maybe Erika picked up on Largo's shushing and Ririka's idea of hiding Yuki in plane sight. Maybe the next comic will show it's Ririka and Erika, (and Largo?), dissing Yuki and discussing why she couldn't be a magical girl. With Yuki shrinking and cowering as they do this it becomes more effective. (The secret to hollywood ugly, is the reaction by other actors to a girls appearance, and her own shrinking demeanor.) Largo understands that a magical girl, just like superheroes like Super Mega Awesome Dude, needs a secret identity. His first gift to Yuki was a pair of wrap around sunglasses to finish her magical kick-assing girl outfit. If Largo realizes it, so must Erika and Ririka. This odd number comic is a turn the pager before you see the next one type. We might be being set-up for the shock of it being Erika and Ririka spewing these comments while framing a sad and pitiful looking Yuki. And Yeah, when the heroes leave, I'm sure they plan lots of hugs and explanations if that's the case.

And finally for the record, I DON'T think the above is very likely, but it's possible.

In other news, maybe the sparkles, short swooshy woot-look-at-all-the-panties skirts, wands, flying tierras, and cutesy talk IS the disguise. No need for wrap around sunglasses or masks. What??!!!, you think boring crybaby Usagi is Magical-Girl-Sailor-Moon ?? Are you nuts?

In other news, maybe the sparkles, short swooshy woot-look-at-all-the-panties skirts, wands, flying tierras, and cutesy talk IS the disguise. No need for wrap around sunglasses or masks. What??!!!, you think boring crybaby Usagi is Magical-Girl-Sailor-Moon ?? Are you nuts?

DS

But I just saw her cat talk and poop out a magic wand!

Last edited by Roborat on Mon Oct 30, 2017 2:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I'm not so sure these guys per se trust Erika as much as they're familiar with her. She's to an extent shown herself as an honorable battle-worthy leader (particularly also not a chaotic unknown unpredictable force). Probably most importantly, looks and acts in a matching way, as well as how they expect her to be. A bit of trust yes, but a bigger part a particular sort of charm spell from the magic that Idols have.

As far as the comments, Ririka has already set off the hide in plain sight. Total doubt appears to have been Ririka's intent and Largo's understanding that he passed along to Erika. IMO that and panel 7 sets up that E&L aren't going to be saying anything. Too, in panel 8, there's apparently five or more, following up on what the three said in panel 6. Anything is possible of course though sure.

Whichever way, Yuki might not be able to handle the situation when all is said and done. Although Largo and Ririka would likely if it came to that be giving her visual or other clues to just act like she was a duck and the commentors were water. Or they might even take a more active role, unless Yuki is supposed to break down crying in an even more unmagicalgirl way to further establish herself as not the reason for all the alarms going off.

In MT, all fictional MG (and other) shows have a real MG/person/entity behind them

The line between real MG's and the fictional avatar is pretty non-existent in the fan's eyes

Interesting indeed. One could even take out the "all" in point two without weakening the argument, or possibly even strengthening it: if we conjecture that one of the motivations of Stability in doing the above would be dezinformatsiya (giving cover to actual MG activity through distraction / misdirection), then it follows they'd want to throw in a few completely whole-cloth fictional "MG stories" for when something really serious is going down and they want the various fanboy groups distracted by completely false trails.

Liminaut's hypothesis would also go a good ways toward, maybe not explaining, but at least strongly suggesting clues in the direction of, whatever Masamichi was muttering obliquely about back when Erika first encountered Yuki and Miho. Presumably Erika quitting would be a bit of a roadbump for Stability, but not a new one; it stands to reason they'd have a pool of Idols from which they would constantly be drawing ones when needed, just like they keep tabs on the actual MGs to recruit / make use of them when needed or at least possible. But Miho stepping in and "taking over" Erika's fans (before Stability had a chance to swap in one of their own Idols) would mean that instead of Stability pulling the strings and calling the shots on that segment of the fanboy population, it would be the "loose cannon" Miho doing so; unsurprising they'd take a dim view of that, putting her on a shit list she'd be hard pressed to get off of later even if she wanted to. (Bringing us back to the current situation of "Issue termination orders first and ask questions later.")

Another currently loose thread that this idea would allow Fred to pull back in would be Dom, last seen shoehorning himself into Kimiko's life behind her back, after his direct approach to her failed. (EDIT: Well, last except for a little random shit-stirring in Piro's direction in the early 1300's.) It makes sense that an Idol's handler would be useful to a group like Stability in interacting with said Idol; it's a guess, but not a completely crazy one, that the actual MGs (at least any that Stability manages to recruit into its fold) would similarly need handlers to keep them with the program (whatever program Stability had in mind for them). Someone willing and able to handle both the real and the fictional ones, and oily and devious enough to worm himself into such a position? A rather scary possibility if you ask me.

I wonder what Yuki's reaction is going to be when she sees the TV show "MagicalGirlYuki.com"?

It will be nothing to her reaction shortly after that to discovering that the title role is being played by Asako.

I think Yuki gets a bit of a backstory on MGs, from Ririka, and apparently Ririka is trying to expose Yuki's powers. She probably needs to learn to contain her MG powers, so not to set off the sparklemeters,
Ouch, on the fanboys being rude, and clearly biased on what MGs should be like.
I think this is where Largo steps in for Yuki. Since he seems to have a better understanding on Yuki and her MG powers. Thus, him intervening.
On Ririka saying about Erika's posing as Moeko's VA, it's a matter if she's referring to the VA role, or if she was referring to knowing the actual Moeko.

~shadowrider (I suppose there is a status quo for MGs out there.)

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At this time Largo is some stoned dude in a wheelchair who doesn't speak Japanese. I'm not sure that he's going to pull anything out of the fire.

On top of that, having Largo's antics be the constant source of Deus Ex Machina saves is approaching the point of being cheap and lazy. Sure the Largo fans love to shout HUZZAH! and throw their hats in the air but it's a gag that's already stale

At this time Largo is some stoned dude in a wheelchair who doesn't speak Japanese. I'm not sure that he's going to pull anything out of the fire.

On top of that, having Largo's antics be the constant source of Deus Ex Machina saves is approaching the point of being cheap and lazy. Sure the Largo fans love to shout HUZZAH! and throw their hats in the air but it's a gag that's already stale

That may be true, though even though Largo may not understand Japanese, or be able to physically do anything legitimate, he might still have something to throw into the fire. Strategically, he understands somewhat what the commotion between the MGs, and the Fanboys are as a faction.
Also, it may be possible that some of the side effects from the meds. have worn off somewhat.(Not counting on it though.) Either way his methods do have a questionable mien.

~shadowrider

Archived:Owner of a "Welcome to SC" plushie with a "I joined O's Army" pin attached,
Member of Ocelot's Army.Zippo owns my 1000th, and 1250th post, cause us Canadian girls stick together.
Xelfixtheimmortal owns my 1337th post.

I so want these "fanboys" to die right now, like really painfully. Please tell me we can soon add "Scanners-style remote-head-exploding" to Yuki's list of potential powers being bandied about last thread.

My impression is that it is not the fanboys speaking last panel. That is all Erika reacting rapid-fire to Largo's intent. She knows exactly what to say to totally throw them off Yuki's trail. Although it probably will still hurt to hear.

Why does anyone think that there's any reason to throw anyone off of Yuki's trail?

Has one of the assembled mercenaries and private security contractors, none of whom are fanboys, pulled out a device to declare that Yuki is the daughter of chief inspector Sonoda Masasmichi? If so I've not noticed it.

I'd much prefer that Yuki demonstrate to the assembly exactly why high powered MG's are freaking scary. Preferably by stealing all of their pants or something equally hilarious but disturbing

Why does anyone think that there's any reason to throw anyone off of Yuki's trail?

Because the forces of 'order' in Megatokyo have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to throw massive fire- and man- power into their frantic efforts to contain all known magical girls, and Yuki's power is supposedly off the charts. If she's exposed as one, it's not just a hospital that's going to be blown to smithereens. And the goal right now isn't to blow MT up; it's to provide cover for Piro and Kimiko to get away clean while they (P&K) provide cover for Miho to get away clean. Even largo can stay that mission-focussed for a short time.

The hint from Largo is shhh, why would Erika start pretending to be multiple people commenting on Yuki. And in the same way the Otaku and Ed/Dom/Ibara and others have often been seen and heard to chat about on line or in person about Kimiko or Miho or Erika.

Why would Yuki be looking like she's hearing a bunch of brusque at-least-semi-misogynistic pretty-clearly-egotistical strangers, rather than like Erika has lost her mind, if it wasn't them and was her.

As a powerful MG at one point, who would likely know the use or need for anonymity (plus cat smile) it seems more likely Ririka would be trying to distract and hide in plain sight rather than outing. 'Here's the alarming MG, that doesn't have anything MGish about her, silly boys.' With predictable reactions about the mismatch.

Those who didn't get what they expected have not been too happy about it, which would negatively impact their desire to fool themselves. There have been a lot of conversations about those sorts of things in Megatokyo.

Didn't notice it before but these guys asked Erika what if there is some other MG here to challenge her and mentioned Erika hadn't been setting off the alarms earlier. So we start out with some info that they all seem to believe this is an MG or even really Moeko. But they're still rational enough someplace to be aware she's only playing a role? If their comments to Yuki are any indication. It could just be that only Idols playing MG look like that, in which case (unless they suddenly become very perceptive) they won't ever believe Yuki actually is one, especially with somebody else pointing it out in a childish manner.

Whatever else, it wouldn't seem a good idea to have all those guys aware that Yuki is a super powerful MG. Whether they know who she is or not. It also doesn't seem to make much sense in this situation for Ririka actually trying to out Yuki or for Erika to be playacting snide denigrating comments.